Adjustable and portable soccer goal and molded joint connectors associated therewith

ABSTRACT

An adjustable and portable soccer goal is provided with at least a top horizontal member connecting two vertical side supports, at least two rearwardly inclined bracing members formed in a circularly configuration, one bracing member engaging the top and bottom of one vertical member. The two bracing members are connected by a lower horizontal member which engages the ground or goal supporting surface to provide stability for the goal. A plurality of anchor assemblies are used to secure the ground engaging members, and each assembly includes a flange with a first end engaging the ground engaging member and a second ground engaging end with an aperture formed therein. The goal is constructed of hollow members with the vertical side supports and the horizontal member connecting them having a preferred thickness or diameter of approximately 1½ inches. The goal frame can be sized in height and width by using shorter or longer four inch vertical side supports and a shorter or longer top horizontal member connecting them. The smaller members are used to form the bracing members and the lower horizontal post. It has been found advantageous to provide curved segments both near the bottom and near the top of the vertical side supports when forming the bracing members. All member connections are made with specifically designed molded joint connectors for joining sections of the same thickness or diameter in an end-to-end relationship, for connecting two members in a T-shaped configuration and for connecting three members at the same location. Member segments when connected with the particular molded joint connector needed are secured to the connector preferably by Allen screws going through the member wall and into molded apertures formed in the connector.

This application is a continuation-in-part application of pending application Ser. No. 10/655,115 filed Sep. 4, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to portable framework structures and, more particularly, to such structures that are used with a net to construct a goal for use in various sporting events. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable soccer goal the frame of which is constructed of vertical, horizontal and inclined bracing members joined in the preferred configuration by a plurality of variously configured molded joint connectors. The frame is secured to the supporting surface by a plurality of specially designed anchor assemblies

2. Description of the Prior Art

Outside the United States, soccer has long been the world's most popular sport. Inside the United States, the sport was virtually ignored throughout the 1960's and 70's. Beginning with the youth program in the 1980's, the popularity of soccer has dramatically increased achieving nationwide recognition in 1994 when the World Cup events were held in the United States.

Today soccer is in rapid pursuit of baseball as “a national pastime.” Its popularity has continued grow and has passed softball and touch football. According to statistics gathered by the Soccer Industry Council of America, soccer's popularity cuts across demographic and geographic lines. Females account for over half of the players, and California and New York, followed by Texas, Pennsylvania and Ohio have the greatest percentage of children participating in the sport. Children of ages from 7 through 11 represent the single largest number of soccer players accounting for approximately 43% of the nation's players. The participants in the 7 through 17 age group represent over 70% of the nation's soccer players.

The rising popularity of the sport has resulted in the establishment of increasing numbers of recreational and competitive soccer teams. With the sport being taken more seriously, semi-professional coaches have been hired and practice regimens are scheduled. Fortunately, the required equipment for practicing is minimal in comparison with some other sports, with a soccer ball and a rectangular field area all that is necessary to participate. To hone soccer skills, a simulation of the goal area is needed to sharpen both goal-tending skills and goal-scoring ability. It is important that all three dimensions—height, width and depth of an official goal—be available during at least part of the practice sessions.

Because schools are in large part responsible for the awakening of children's heightened interest in soccer, school grounds are frequently the location of soccer practicing. Because the majority of schools are unable to provide great numbers of permanent soccer fields, most soccer teams and players must rely on portable soccer goals if such active practice sessions are to be provided on a regular basis.

Regulation soccer goals measure 24 feet by 8 feet, and providing such a large netted structure in a portable design has proven to be somewhat difficult. One solution has been to utilize basically the same components as in a permanent soccer goal with attachment to a wheeled foundation provided in the place of ground foundation structures. Such a goal is quite heavy and presents safety concerns to those around it.

One alternate solution has been the construction of soccer nets on site using a multiple component framework to which separate netting is attached. Once assembled, the framework design tended to simulate the more permanent soccer net structures by including a number of heavy, oversize components that were of marginal portability. By separating the net from the outer framework, the opportunities for inadvertent separation of the two components increased.

In addition to being of questionable portability, the semi-permanent wheeled nets and the use of heavy multi-component frames also present a safety risk when improperly installed or when used in a manner for which they were not designed. Such non-soccer activities have included using the structures for climbing or performing aerobatics which sometimes results in severe, even fatal, injuries. In one case, as one person climbed on the horizontal header of a 600 lb. steel goal post, the goal post tipped forward struck the head of a another person who was hanging from the header resulting in fatal injuries. At the time of the incident, this goal post was not properly anchored to the ground. In another case, a boy in California suffered severe and permanent trauma to the head when he was knocked unconscious by a falling soccer goal. This player was moving the goal into place with his teammates at the time of the injury.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) indicates that there are 12 million soccer players in the United States under the age of 18 who play soccer at least once a year. It also estimates that there are approximately 225,000 to 500,000 soccer goals in this country. Many of these are unsafe because they are not stable or are not properly weighted or anchored.

Injuries relating to soccer goals fall into the following categories most of which relate to portable goals. They include (a) goals falling onto people when they are moving the goal from one location to another, (b) people falling from goals while climbing or hanging from goals or nets, (c) goals falling on people who are pulling down or pulling on crossbars, (d) injuries or fatalities occurring as a result of running into goal posts, (e) goals falling over as a result of high winds or wind gusts and (f) cuts/abrasions resulting from sharp edges or jagged metal or wood pieces protruding from goal posts.

The CPSC reports that at least 21 deaths during the period 1979-1994 were associated with movable soccer goals. The mean age of the 21 subjects was ten years of age. Three additional fatalities involving children were documented from January 1993 through July 1994 by falling goal posts bringing the number of reported deaths to 24. In addition, an estimated 120 injuries involving falling goal posts were treated each year in U.S. hospital emergency rooms during the period 1989 through 1993. The CPSC has since recommended that goal posts not in use should be either chained to a fence or other permanent structure, placed goal-faced-down on the ground or disassembled for storage.

Because large number of children start playing soccer at a very young age, they improve significantly as they grow older. When at the earliest age, the children are small, and the soccer nets can be made in smaller sizes and placed on smaller than normal playing fields. As the children grow in age, size and skills, soccer goals and fields can be gradually increased in size. Thus there is a need for an improved soccer goal that is portable, adjustable in size and safely constructed and anchored, and it is to this need that the present invention is directed.

OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principle objective the present invention is to provide a sporting goal that can be easily setup and dismantled and that can be increased or reduced in size for ease and portability and enhancement of skills.

A further objective of the present invention is to eliminate the use of large and potentially harmful clips and fasteners to attach the netting to framework.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to construct the frame of the goal of multiple members of hollow tubing that can be securely joined together by newly developed molded joint connectors.

Still another objective of the present invention is provide a uniquely designed anchor assembly a plurality of which are used to secure the frame to the ground or some other goal supporting surface.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to utilize hollow tubular members of designed lengths to size the goal for smaller players and to expand the same goal to a larger regulation size for more skilled and experienced players.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide as a primary goal the production of a new adjustable and portable soccer goal that reduces to the extent possible the risks of placing soccer goals in soccer-interested communities throughout the world that may lead to injuries to soccer players, soccer player support staffs, fans and all other interested parties

An adjustable and portable soccer goal is provided with at least a top horizontal member connecting two vertical side supports, at least two rearwardly inclined bracing members formed in a circular configuration, one bracing member engaging the top and bottom of one vertical member. The two bracing members are connected by a lower horizontal member which engages the ground or goal supporting surface to provide stability for the goal.

A plurality of anchor assemblies are used to secure the ground engaging members to the ground, and each assembly includes a flange with a first end engaging the ground engaging member and a second ground-engaging end with and aperture formed therein. A stake extends through the second end aperture and into the ground to secure the ground engaging member against movement with respect to the ground. The flange is secured to the ground-engaging member.

The goal is constructed of hollow members with the vertical side supports and the horizontal member connecting them having a preferred thickness or diameter of approximately four inches. The bracing members and the lower horizontal member preferably have a smaller thickness or diameter of approximately 1½ inches.

The goal frame can be sized in height and width by using shorter or longer four inch vertical side supports and a shorter or longer top horizontal member connecting them. The smaller members are used to form the bracing members and the lower horizontal post. It has been found advantageous to provide curved segments both near the bottom and near the top of the vertical side supports when forming the bracing members.

All member connections are made with specifically designed molded joint connectors for joining sections of the same thickness or diameter in an end-to-end relationship, for connecting two members in a T-shaped configuration and for connecting three members at a same location. Member segments when connected with the particular molded joint connector needed are secured to the connector preferably by Allen screws going through the member wall and into molded apertures formed in the connector.

Thus there has been outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In that respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its arrangement of the components set forth in the following description and illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.

It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting in any respect. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of this development. It is important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent methods and products resulting therefrom that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The application is neither intended to define the invention, which is measured by its claims, nor to limit its scope in any way.

Thus, the objects of the invention set forth above, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are noted with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific results obtained by its use, reference should be made to the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.

The drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. They illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with their description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the assembled soccer goal frame of the present invention showing the connected members and the section and screw placement in such members;

FIG. 1B is another perspective view of the assembled soccer goal frame identifying structural locations and connections that will be described subsequently;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the goal frame shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the goal frame shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4A is a plan view of the soccer goal frame shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4B is an enlarged and isolated view of the connection of the top horizontal member, a vertical side support and a rearward bracing member;

FIG. 5 is a perspective and enlarged view of the connection of one end of the horizontal ground member to the bracing member lower end;

FIG. 6A is a top perspective view of a segment end-to-end joint connector for the smaller tubing;

FIG. 6B is a lower perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C is another perspective view of the assembled soccer goal frame utilizing extensions in the vertical side supports, the top horizontal member and the horizontal ground member;

FIG. 6D is a perspective and exploded view of the connector joining two segments to form the top horizontal member;

FIG. 7A is a top perspective view of the connector for joining the lower horizontal member to the lower bracing member section as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7B is a bottom perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8A is a top perspective view of the joint connector for connecting a vertical side support to the top horizontal member;

FIG. 8B is a bottom perspective view of the joint connector shown in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9A is a front elevational view of the joint connector shown in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9B is a rear elevational view of the connector shown in FIG. 8B;

FIG. 10A is a top perspective view of the molded joint connector front cover shown in FIGS. 1A and 3;

FIG. 10B is a bottom perspective view of the connector front cover shown in FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11A is a top perspective view of the molded joint connector rear cover shown in FIGS. 2-4A;

FIG. 11B is a bottom perspective view of the rear cover for the joint connector shown in FIG. 2-4A;

FIG. 12A is a top perspective view of the segment end-to-end joint connector for the larger tubing used to formed a connected condition in FIGS. 6C and 6D;

FIG. 12B is a bottom perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. 12A;

FIG. 13A is a top perspective view of the connector used to join the horizontal ground member to the bracing member lower end as shown in FIGS. 1A and 5;

FIG. 13B is a bottom perspective view of the connector shown in FIGS. 1A, 5 and 13A;

FIG. 13C is a perspective, exploded and enlarged view of the connector as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B just before joining and securing the horizontal ground member to a vertical side support;

FIG. 13D is a perspective view of the elements shown in FIG. 13 in the joined condition;

FIG. 14A is a top perspective view of the molded offset washer positioned between the securing screw and the connector molded recesses for the smaller tubing;

FIG. 14B is a side elevational view of the washer shown in FIG. 14A;

FIG. 15A is a top perspective view of the molded offset washer positioned between the securing screw and the connector molded recesses for the larger tubing;

FIG. 15B is a side elevational view of the washer shown in FIG. 15A;

FIG. 16A is a top perspective view of the anchor to be secured to the lower horizontal member having an aperture formed therein to receive a pin or spike that will be embedded in the supporting surface for the goal frame;

FIG. 16B is a bottom perspective view of the anchor shown in FIG. 16A;

FIG. 16C is a perspective and enlarged view of the anchor and the received pin or spike;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the anchor assembly with the flange shown in the uppermost position with respect to the stake;

FIG. 18 is a perspective of the anchor assembly with the flange shown in the lowermost position with respect to the stake;

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of the anchor assembly shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the anchor assembly shown in FIGS. 17, 18 and 19;

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of the anchor assembly shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 22 is an end elevational view of the anchor assembly shown in FIGS. 17 and 21;

FIG. 23 is a side elevational and sectional view of the anchor assembly shown in FIGS. 17, 21 and 22;

FIG. 24 is a downwardly viewed perspective view of the flange showing the stake-receiving aperture formed therein;

FIG. 25 is an upwardly viewed perspective view of the flange showing the stake-receiving aperture formed therein;

FIG. 26 is a side elevational sectional view of the flange shown in FIGS. 24 and 25;

FIG. 27 is an end elevational view of the flange shown in FIGS. 24, 25 and 26;

FIG. 28 is a top plan view of the flange shown in FIGS. 24, 25, 26 and 27;

FIG. 29 is an end elevational enlarged and fragmentary view of the flange cooperatively receiving the stake through the flange aperture and connected to a ground-engaging member by a screw received within a horizontal ground-engaging member integrally formed screw receiving receptacle;

FIG. 30 is an end elevational enlarged and fragmentary view similar to that shown in Figure except that the screw connecting the flange to the ground-engaging member extends completely through the member and is fastened by a threaded nut on the outside of the ground-engaging member;

FIG. 31 is a side elevational view of a flange having a square or rectangular configuration rather than a circular configuration as shown in FIG. 26; and

FIG. 32 is an end elevational view of the flange shown in FIG. 31.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1A, a soccer goal frame shown generally as 20 is made up of two vertical side supports 22, a top horizontal member 24 having ends 21, 23, and two rearward bracing members 26 each connecting with one vertical side support member upper and lower ends 28, 30. A horizontal ground member 32 having first and second ends 34, 36 connects with rearward bracing members, shown generally as 26. Each rearward bracing member includes a central segment 43, a lower end 40 and an upper end 41. Junction 38 is formed by a connector 56 securing a vertical side support 22, one end of top horizontal member 24 and rearward bracing member upper end 41.

First end 34 of horizontal ground member 32 connects with rearward bracing member lower end 40 by means of a connector 42 as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Securement of horizontal ground member 32 to bracing member lower end 40 (FIG. 5) is accomplished preferably by Allen screws 44 used with molded skewed washers 46 to provided appropriate tension. Connector 42 has mold formed apertures 50 which cooperatively receive screws as evident from FIG. 6A.

Variations in the size of goal frame 20 is usually accomplished by replacing vertical side supports 22, top horizontal member 24 and horizontal ground member 32 with longer or shorter sizes depending on the age grouping and size of the players or other circumstances. When changing sizes of rearward bracing members 26, only central segment 43 of that member need be replaced since lower end 40 and upper end 41, because of their arcuate, configuration can remain as is. It is to be understood that additional lengths or reductions of all members can be achieved by adding or removing segments of each member until the desired length is attained.

When any member, for example, rearward bracing member 26, is formed by a plurality of segments such as bracing member central segment 43 is connected with bracing member upper and lower ends 40, 41, the connection between each segment is made by the use of connector 48 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. Connector 48 extends into the hollow interior of segments 43 and 40 and 43 and 41, and mold formed apertures 50 cooperatively receive screws 44 extending through the tubular segment wall to firmly connect the segments to each other. If the connection involves the larger size members 22, 24 when these members are to be lengthened, connectors 52 as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B are used. They join the added sections to the existing member in the same manner as described previously about joining segments of the smaller size tubing except that two or more additional apertures 54 are provided to receive additional screws because of the larger size of the segments.

The connection of vertical side supports 22 to top horizontal member 24 is shown by referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B. These connectors 56 extend into the hollow interiors of members 22, 24 until ridge 58 engages the end of each member 22, 24. Connector 56 and connected members 22, 24 are secured by screws 60 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4A which are cooperatively received by molded apertures 57. In this arrangement, larger molded skewed washers 62 as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B are used as tensioning devices to assure tight connections.

Connector 56, the ends 28 of vertical side supports 22 and the ends of top horizontal member 24 are housed within a cover 73 made up of a forward portion 72 and a rearward portion 74. Forward portion 72 has extended molded apertures 76 which project through the interior of connector 56. Screws pass through to apertures 59 mold formed within connector 56 to secure forward portion 72 over and against the forward side of connector 56. Rearward cover portion 74 has a mold formed opening 75, and the rearward side of connector 56 has a protrusion 77 extending in the rearward side direction. When assembled, protrusion 77 extends through aperture 75 so that cover portion 77 can be urged in the forward direction to place it in proper position to accommodate rearward bracing member upper end 41 with apertures that align with apertures 79 in protrusion 77. Threaded insert members (not shown) are positioned within apertures 79 during the molding process forming connector 56, and screws are then inserted through the apertures in upper end 41 into the now-threaded apertures 79 to tighten the cap and hold rearward portion upper end 41 and protrusion 77 in place.

The connection of the lower ends 30 of vertical side supports 22 with rearward bracing portion lower end 40 is made with the use of connectors 68 shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B and 13C. Connector 68 has a projecting portion 70 which extends into the hollow interior of lower end 40, and a foot portion 71 a is cooperatively received within the hollow interior of vertical side support lower end 30. Screws firmly connect connector projecting portion 70 through aperture 73 with lower end 40, and foot portion 71 a is secured to member lower end 30 by frictional engagement between ridges 71 b against the inside walls of member second end 30.

Goal frame 20 is secured to its supporting surface 80 by a number of anchor assemblies generally designated 82 as shown in FIGS. 16A, 16B and 16C. Each anchor assembly 82 has a flange 84 engaging lower horizontal member 32 circumferentially along its periphery and a surface engaging end 86 with an aperture 88 formed therein to receive a stake 90 (FIG. 16C) which passes through aperture 88 and into supporting surface 80 to secure frame 20 against movement. Stake 90 has an upper head portion 96 and a lower ground entry end 98. Stake 90 is slidably movable within aperture 88 of flange ground-engaging end 86 from upper head portion 96 to lower ground entry end 98.

Flange 84 has an aperture 94 cooperating with a flange-securing device such as a screw 100 shown in FIG. 29 and 114 shown in FIG. 30. Ground engaging horizontal member 32 is hollow and has an aperture 100 through at least one wall (FIG. 29) which may be formed within member 32 during the molding process. In preexisting members such as shown in FIG. 30 and designated 104, apertures 106, 108 are drilled through both walls 110, 112 and a screw 114 extends through both walls and is fastened as shown in FIG. 30 by a threaded nut 116.

Stake lower ground entry end 98 is made slightly larger than the opening of aperture 88 by the provision of protrusions 120 formed after stake 90 has been positioned within aperture 88. With this configuration, stake 90 will remain within aperture 88 when dislodged from the ground to release member 32 and the goal frame of which it is a part. This is very convenient when, for example, the goal is to be moved from one location to another, because stake 90 cannot fall away from the frame when it is made ready to move and perhaps become lost. Protrusions 120 prevent stake 90 from passing through and being removed from aperture 88.

From the preceding description, it can be seen that an adjustable and portable soccer goal frame, associated novel molded connectors and uniquely designed anchor assemblies have been provided that will meet all of the advantages of prior art devices and offer additional advantages not heretofore achievable. With respect to the foregoing invention, the optimum relationship to the parts of the invention including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, use and assembly are deemed readily apparent to those skilled in the art. All equivalent relationships illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed herein.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, and it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. All suitable modifications and equivalents that fall within the scope of the amended claims are deemed within the present inventive concept. 

1. An anchor assembly for securing a ground engaging member to the ground comprising: a flange having a first end engaging the ground engaging member and a second ground engaging end with an aperture formed therein; a stake extending through the second end aperture and into the ground to secure the ground engaging member against movement with respect to the ground; and means securing the flange to the ground engaging member.
 2. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stake has an upper head portion and a lower ground entry end.
 3. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stake is slidable within the flange ground engaging end aperture from the stake upper head portion to the stake lower ground entry end.
 4. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flange first end has an aperture therein cooperating with the flange securing means to secure the flange to the ground engaging member.
 5. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flange securing means is a pin extending through the flange first end aperture to the ground engaging member.
 6. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ground engaging member is hollow and has an aperture through at least one wall aligned with the flange first end aperture.
 7. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the ground engaging member is hollow and has an aperture through at least one wall aligned with the flange first end aperture and the pin extends through the flange first end aperture and is secured within the hollow member at least one wall aperture to secure the flange to the ground engaging member.
 8. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the stake is slidable within the flange ground engaging end aperture from the stake upper head portion to the stake lower ground entry end.
 9. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the flange first end has an aperture therein cooperating with the flange securing means to secure the flange to the ground engaging member.
 10. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the flange first end has an aperture therein cooperating with the flange securing means to secure the flange to the ground-engaging member.
 11. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the flange securing means is a pin extending through the flange first end aperture to the ground engaging member.
 12. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim in claim 5 wherein the pin threadably engages the ground-engaging member.
 13. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the stake lower ground entry end is larger in size than the second flange ground engaging end aperture opening so that the stake will remain held within the aperture opening when dislodged from the ground to permit the ground engaging member to be removed.
 14. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flange first end is arcuately configured.
 15. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flange first end is rectangularly configured.
 16. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the flange first end is arcuately configured.
 17. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the flange first end is rectangularly configured.
 18. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the at least one wall aperture is threadably formed to cooperatively receive the threadably formed pin and secure the flange to the ground engaging member.
 19. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the ground engaging hollow member has an aperture through opposing walls aligned with the flange first end aperture and the pin extends through the first flange end aperture and the opposing wall apertures, the anchor assembly further comprising: a threaded securing nut threadably engaging the pin outside the opposing walls of the ground engaging hollow member.
 20. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 19 wherein the flange first end is arcuately configured.
 21. The anchor assembly as claimed in claim 19 wherein the flange first end is rectangularly configured. 